There's a reference to beer and hearing beans boiling so i am assuming there's a huge black kettle of beans cooking over a fire in a sand pit and the men will be sitting around and eating their beans and drinking beer. We used to cook beans like that on the beach at my grandfather's cabin on a lake outside of Timmins in Northern Ontario. the mention of food makes think it's a term for boarders at meal time and there is no mention of water or sailing/boats in the song. it's trains and land and food. I think the meaning of outfumbled is in reference to missing out on a plate or bowl that was making it's rounds around the table and he lost his chance for some food on that plate. that's what no school can teach you - how to get your own at a table of hungry men with food being passed around as you try to eat at the same time.
Char
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